Traffic during the second national lockdown was higher than the first, according to data released by the Transport Technology Forum (TTF).
A comparison of travel data during England’s two national lockdowns suggests that, while there was a significant drop in traffic at the beginning of the November restrictions, traffic levels only dropped to 70% of baseline levels overall, compared to 25% of baseline in March.
Analysts gathered data about travel on city, town and rural roads from more than 100 districts and boroughs across England and compared data across the two periods.
They found that there was a quicker return of traffic to the roads compared to the spring, with levels growing even while lockdown was going on. They also saw a clear spike in local traffic on 4 November, the day before the second lockdown began.
“This report is extremely valuable as a tool for local authorities to use to compare what’s happening in their areas with the national picture,” explained TTF analyst Graham Nichols of Arup. “We’re getting a really good understanding of how changes in covid rules affect transport in towns and cities, but I also think it helps show us how much, and for how long, people are changing behaviour.”
You can find the full report here.
The Transport Technology Forum has also released the recordings of last week’s Winter Forum on its YouTube channel.
The TTF will be hosting a Fireside Chat on 17 December between 4 and 5pm featuring “A Review of a Very Strange Year”. TTF manager Darren Capes of the Department for Transport will be joined by Karla Jakeman, from Innovate UK, Hannah Tune of Transport for Greater Manchester and Dominic Paulo from INRIX.
You can find out more information about the event here.